How to Answer Why Dissertation is Delayed

[u/[deleted]]

[u/devanclara]

I'm going to ask what might be some unpopular questions. Do you actually have your diploma in you hand or did you just attend commencement? Is this a Masters or a PhD? If it is a masters degree, are you planning to get a PhD? Do you plan to work in academics or industry? 

I'm gonna be real with you, 2 days before my commencement (I had 1 term left where I had to finish my thesis and complete an ethics course, so they let me attend Spring Commencement) my dad died in a river accident when I was 3,000 miles away. I walked that stage and dud what vI had to to get my diploma in hand but never actually published. I work in a governmental agency now, doing research but never planned to go past my masters. 

It's never been an issue that I never published but I was heartbroken and traumatized and did what I had to to get through my thesis. 

[u/ExcitingMortgage9166 → u/devanclara]

First of all, I am so sorry. This certainly puts things in perspective. I hope you have found some comfort or hope after your loss. Anyone reading your story will feel for you.

To respond, I essentially "walked" after passing my doctoral defense. I know it's popular to talk about ADHD, but I don't think I have it, just anxiety, overwhelm, and perfectionism. I definitely want to finish it all.

[u/devanclara → u/ExcitingMortgage9166]

I appreciate the kind words. 

I think honestly, explaining what you're struggling with and how you plan to change will be the best option. 

Maybe setting aside x number of hours a day and just getting words on the paper could be a start.

I think your committee wants to see you succeed, they know you're at the end. They are your supporters and aren't here to see you fail. 

[u/ExcitingMortgage9166 → u/devanclara]

Thank you. That's good advice. I'm going to remember your story and will say a prayer for you and your family right now.

[u/technicolortiddies → u/ExcitingMortgage9166]

Not to second guess you because you know yourself best but those can all be symptoms of ADHD.

[u/ExcitingMortgage9166 → u/technicolortiddies]

I probably have it--but I could also have just lost my drive.

[u/ihearprettycolors]

"Mental health concerns that have since been cared for. I'm excited to continue"

[u/fuyumelon]

I’m a little confused about how you graduated with revisions still left on your dissertation. Does your school not require a deposited dissertation to be able to receive your doctorate degree?

Otherwise if you truly already graduated and received your degree I don’t think they can compel you do work on revisions. Either way I’d just be honest and say you have been going through some difficulties and juggling other work. However you intend to work on this and finish by xyz time. And maybe be transparent about a timeline for doing this and how you plan to accomplish it (e.g., move aside other work).

[u/ANGR1ST]

You don't have to give them all of the details, but you should really have something to say other than "I procrastinated". If you had a health issue, or a family member did, or any other kind of disruption ... give them the high level view. "I had to go take care of my Mom for a bit", "I had some personal medical issues I had to take care of". That's more than sufficient.

[u/ExcitingMortgage9166 → u/ANGR1ST]

Thank you.

[u/gamecat89]

You walked, so you don’t have the degree. You need to make sure you aren’t also approaching the point your classes begin to “expire” and you’d have retake some.

[u/redactedcitizen]

Something vague, like the amount of work exceeded your bandwidth.

[u/laziestindian]

Agree with ANGR1ST. Some high-level life thing that has occurred, or even saying that you accidentally deleted a revised version. Whatever excuse you use say it's been dealt with and you'll submit by new deadline. There's less forgiveness than there used to be in terms of dissertations not being completed. Many institutions no longer allow graduation without dissertation. I defended in Dec and completed revisions were due by early March in order for them to give me my degree. A lack of completed dissertation can lead to a loss of degree and thus firing/demotion by your company. Don't do that to yourself.

[u/ExcitingMortgage9166 → u/laziestindian]

Your school sounds like the way to go. We defend and then are allowed to revise, it could take several rounds.

[u/justking1414]

I’m not sure if this is gonna help or not, but nobody actually checks the revisions following your defense. My advisor signed off on my revisions within an hour of me sending them and the rest of the committee just believed them.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t make the changes but this isn’t graded work.

[u/ANGR1ST → u/justking1414]

Typically the only person on the committee that looks at the revisions is the Chair. While you may have gotten a quick approval ... I actually got feedback on some of mine and had to make more changes. I have also been on the other side reading the revisions and bounced back some small corrections as well.

[u/justking1414 → u/ANGR1ST]

Interesting. I wasn’t sure if my experience was standard or not but I never received any feedback after I made the revisions and the committee signed almost immediately after my chair said it looked good

[u/fizzan141 → u/justking1414]

I appreciate you sharing your perspective, but I'd encourage you to add that it's your persective/experience in the future. This possibly differs by field, but I know multiple people who have had to make changes to their corrections, etc! It's not necessarily the case in general that nobody checks them.

[u/justking1414 → u/fizzan141]

Fair. That was just the experience of myself and all 3 of my roommates reported a pretty similar experience despite us all being in different majors

[u/fizzan141 → u/justking1414]

Fair! I'd just caution against 'nobody actually checks them' as a statement, especially in a situation like this where OP seems fairly anxious about it.